The 15th night of Shabaan is a very blessed night. According to the Hadith Shareef, the name of this Mubarak night is "Nisf Sha'baan" which means 15th night of Shabaan. The reason for this special night to attain its name of Laylat al-Bara'ah, meaning the Night of Salvation, Seeking Freedom from Torment and Calamity, is that in this night the blessing and acceptance of repentance may be accomplished. Laylat al-Baraa'ah in Persian, as well as in Urdu, is called Shab-e Bara'at. It is the special night of seeking forgiveness and repenting to Almighty Allah, remembering our past sins and sincerely settling the mind that one will never commits sins in the future. All the deeds that are against Shari'ah must be totally avoided so that our Du'a and Istighfaar, hopefully, will be accepted.

A Letter of Imam al-Ahl as-Sunnah towards All Muslims Imam of Ahl as-Sunnah, Mujaddid [Revivalist] of the Ummah, Allamah, Mawlana, Al-Haaj, Al-Hafidh, Al-Qari, Ash-Shah Imam Ahmad Rida Khan [Alaihir raHmah wa ar-Ridwan] wrote a letter to one of his disciples emphasizing repentance before onset of Shab-e-Bara'at. Same is being presented here due to its worthiness:

Shab-e-Bara'at is about to come. On this night, the deeds of all servants are presented in the Exalted Court of Allah. For the sake of the Most Dignified Rasool (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon Him), Allah forgives the sins of the Muslims except that of a few. Among these are those two Muslims who bear mutual hostility for some worldly reasons. Allah says: 'Leave them as they are, until they mend their relations'.Ahl-e-Sunnat should end discords and mend relations before sunset of 14th Sha'ban. Fulfil the rights of others; else get waiver so at the book of deeds is presented in His court devoid of rights of others. Regarding the rights of Allah, mere sincere repentance is sufficient. It is mentioned in a Hadith:

التائب من الذنب كمن لا ذنب لهWhoever repents of his sin, is as if he has not committed the sin at all. [Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 4250]

If one abides as advised, (by the grace of Allah) there is a strong hope of forgiveness in this night provided his beliefs are perfect. (He forgives sins and grants mercy)This practice of bringing brothers in Islam close to settle discords and fulfill the rights of each other is being in effect here since long. Hopefully, you will inculcate this good practice among the Muslims of your environs to become deserving of the reward mentioned in the following narration:

من سن في الإسلام سنة حسنة فله أجرها وأجر من عمل بها الى يوم القيمة لاينقص من أجورهم شيءHe who initiates a virtuous tradition in Islam, there is reward of it for him and also the reward of all those acting upon it will be written continually in his account of deeds until the Day of Judgement without any decrease in the rewards of those acting upon it.

Pray for this Faqir (lowly servant of Allah) to be blessed with absolution and peace in the world and in the Hereafter! I remember you in supplications and will keep doing so. It should be made clear to all the Muslims that concord and pardon all should be made from core of the heart. Neither mere utterance by tongue is sufficient and nor lip-service is liked in the court of Allah.— — —والسلامFaqir Ahmad Rida Qadirifrom: Bareilly

Five Blessed NightsSayyiduna Abu Umamah Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu has narrated that the Beloved and Blessed Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam has said, 'There are five nights in which Du'a is not rejected: the first night of Rajab, the 15th night of Sha'ban, the night between Thursday and Friday, the night of Eid-ul-Fitr and the night of Eid-ul-Adha (the 10th Zul-Hajja-tul-Haram). [Tarikh Dimishq li-ibn 'Asakir, Vol. 10, Page 408]

How to welcome the Night?

On this auspicious night, you should perform fresh Ghusal and Wudu and perform the two Rakaat of Tahhiyatul Wudhu. In every Rakaat, after the Suratul Fatiha, you should read Ayatul Kursi once and Surah Ahad 3 times. Also perform eight Rakaats of Salah with four Salaams.In each Rakaat after the Surah Fatiha, you should read the Ayatul Kursi (once) and Surah Ikhlas fifty times.

What to Recite immediately after Sunset?

After sunset, you should recite "La Hawla walaa Quwwata illa Billahil-aliyil Azeem" forty times with three times Durood Shareef before and after. It is mentioned that by reciting this, Almighty Allah will forgive forty years of your sins and forty Hoors will await to serve you in Jannat al-Firdous.

Countless Mercies

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) has stated: "Verily! Almighty Allah directs His Special Grace on the world on this Night. He forgives my Ummah more than the number of wool that is found on the sheep of the Bani Kalb". We should remember that in those days the Bani Kalb possessed the most number of sheep that any other tribe.

How great is the Mercy of Almighty Allah on this night that He forgives millions of Muslims. We also realize from this that these numbers can only pertain to the Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah collectively, for the righteous followers of the Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali indeed number millions of Muslims.

The visitors of this Night

It is narrated that the departed souls (Arwaah) of the Muslims visit the houses of their friends and relatives on this night and proclaim: "O people of the house! You stay in our houses and enjoy the wealth that we have left behind. You use our children and take work from them, please perform our Esaale Sawaab. Verily our deeds have become complete, while your record of deeds is still spread".

If the people of the house perform the Esaale Sawaab and Khatam Shareef on this night, then the Arwaah depart will the Sawaab extremely happy and overjoyed all the time making Du'a for the people.

Visit to the Cemetery

Hadrat Ayesha Siddiqah (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anha) reports: "One night, which was the 15th of Shabaan, I did not find the Beloved Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) in the house so I went in search of him. After a long search, I found him in al-Baqi' (the cemetery of Madinah) offering Du'a for the deceased and praying for their forgiveness". [Bayhaqi]

A special point must be made to visit the cemetery during this night and pray for the deceased buried therein, as the Most Beloved Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) is been reported as having visited the cemetery on this night and spending a long time therein, lamenting, reading and praying for the deceased.

To keep Fast

According to the Hadith Shareef which is narrated by Ibn Hibbaan (Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu) that Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "When the night of 15th Shabaan arrives spend the night awake and keep fast the next day".

Hadrat Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu ta'ala anhu) reports that the Most Beloved of Allah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said often in his Khutba (sermon): "O people! Lighten and cleanse your bodies by way of fasting during Shabaan, so that it shall be easy and helpful to you for the fast during Ramadan. Whoso fasts for three days during Shabaan, all his past sins are wiped off". [Bayhaqi]

Sayyiduna Ali Radi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu has reported that the Holy Prophet (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said, 'When the 15th Night of Sha'ban comes, do Qiyam (for worship) in the night and observe fast in the day. No doubt Allah reveals special Divine Manifestation on sky above the earth from the time of sunset and announces, 'Is there anyone seeking forgiveness so that I may forgive him? Is there anyone seeking sustenance so that I may grant him sustenance? Is there anyone afflicted so that I may relieve his affliction? Is there so and so...' He keeps announcing it until the time of the Fajr.' [Sunan Ibn Majah, Vol. 2, Page 160, Hadith 1388]

Fasting is also recommended on the 13th, 14th and 15th of Shabaan.

How to spend the Night?

On this night, perform Nawaafil, recite the Qur'an Shareef, recite abundant Durood Shareef, Istighfaar and Kalima Tayyibah. It is also mentioned that if one reads Surah Dukhan seven times on this night, Almighty Allah will reward you with 70 worldly needs and 70 deeds for the Hereafter.

Do not be amongst deprived of Mercy

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "Almighty Allah forgives all Muslims on this night, besides the fortune tellers, the magicians, the alcoholics, those who disrespect their parents and those who take part and encourage adultery".

In another narration, the following people have also been mentioned:

One who deals in usury (Riba),

One who wears his trousers below his ankle with pride and arrogance (In Arabia, people displayed their wealth and boasted in this manner),

One who creates disunity among two Muslims,

The person who unjustly takes away the right and property of another Muslim and has not yet rectified himself.

All these persons are not shown Mercy on this auspicious Night. A humble appeal to seek pardon and ask Allah's forgiveness

Dear Muslim brothers, the Bountiful Allah in His Infinite Mercy has provided us with such an auspicious night so that we may take advantage of it and repent for our sins,and thus obtain His Grace and Favour. It is for us to take full advantage of it. During this night, offer special prayers and repent sincerely for our past sins and ask for His Forgiveness.

Also on this night the Doors of Mercy and Forgiveness are opened wide, and those who sincerely grieve over and repent for their past sins and seek forgiveness from Allah are pardoned and forgiven by the Grace of Allah the Merciful.

Each Tasbih or Du'a should begin and terminate with the recital of Durood Shareef and one who wishes for the acceptance of his Du'as should use the Wasila of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam).

It is mentioned in "Gunyah at-Talibeen" that the month of Shaban according to some narrations is related to Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam). So, it is our duty, as the Ummat of Rasoolullah (SallAllahu Ta'ala Alaihi wa Sallam) to love and respect this month more than any other month (besides Ramadan). We should also offer abundantly salutations (Salaat-o-Salaam) upon the Most Beloved Prophet (SallAllahu Ta'ala Alaihi wa Sallam).

While we are praying and asking for ourselves and family, we should also remember in our Du'as the Muslim Ummah facing calamities in many parts of the world, that may Allah Ta'ala grant them the strength and Istiqaamat (steadfastness) in Deen. Those weak Muslims who are under pressure from the West and modernisation, may Allah Ta'ala guide them and show them the right path so that they be in touch with their glorious past. Aameen. May Almighty Allah guide us on the path of the Ambiya and the Awliya. Aameen.

Nafil Salaah to be read on Shab-e-Baraat

Basharat of Jannat: Sayyiduna Rasulullah (SallAllahu Alaihi wa Sallam) is reported to have said that Allah Ta'ala instructs and assigns 100 angels to the person who performs 100 Nafil Salaahs on this auspicious night – 30 of which will bring the good news of Jannat, 30 angels to protect one from the Azaab (Punishment) of Dozakh (Hell), 30 to remove all misfortunes and miseries of this world and 10 angels to protect one from Shaitaan.

The Guardian of Imaan: After performing Maghrib Salaah, read 2 rakaahs of Nafil. In the first rakaah, after Surah Fatiha, recite Surah Ikhlaas 3 times and Surah Falaq once.In the second rakaah, after Surah Fatiha, recite Surah Ikhlaas 3 times and Surah Naas once. After Salam, make Du'a and ask Allah to protect your Imaan.

Barakah in Rizq: After Maghrib Salaah, read 2 rakaahs of Nafil. Thereafter, read Surah Yasin once, Surah Ikhlaas 21 times and Du'a Nisf Shabaan once. Then, make Du'a for Barakah in Rozi and ask Allah not to make you dependent on anyone.

Long Life filled with Piety: After Maghrib Salaah, read 2 rakaahs of Nafil. Read Surah Yasin once. Then read Du'a Nisf Shabaan once. Thereafter, make Du'a for long life filled with piety and righteousness.

Reward for ten thousand good Deeds: Anyone who performs 20 rakaahs of Nafil after Maghrib in such a way that after Surah Fatiha, recites Surah Ikhlaas 10 times in every rakaah, will be rewarded abundantly by Allah Ta'ala, and ten thousand good deeds will be recorded in his Amal Namaa (Book of Deeds).

Death with complete Faith/Imaan: Anyone who performs 2 rakaahs of Nafil on the last Friday of Shabaan between Maghrib and Esha will die with full faith and Imaan. After Surah Fatiha, one should read Ayatul Kursi once, Surah Ikhlaas 10 times and Surah Falaq and Surah Naas once in both rakaahs. If the person who reads Nafil in such a way dies until the next Shabaan, will die with Imaan, Inshaa-Allah.

Sincere Advice: The performing of Salaat al-Tasbeeh on this night is also very virtuous.